The SGA’s standard is being developed in collaboration with its members to ensure compliance with key regulations such as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The alliance also released a briefing paper on gaming’s scope 3 emissions, which is freely available on its website. The SGA, a member-driven cooperative, is overseen by managing director Maria Wagner, who previously led the Berlin and Brandenburg gaming initiative Games:net.
The SGA is backed by industry veterans such as Petri Järvilehto, co-founder of Remedy Entertainment and Seriously Entertainment, and David Helgason, founder of Unity Technologies and the Transition VC fund. It counts many leading European game companies and associations among its members. Kupiainen’s personal journey of realizing his carbon footprint while commuting between Helsinki and Los Angeles led to the formation of the SGA. He and Wagner embarked on a backpacking trip around Europe to raise awareness about sustainability in the gaming industry.
The SGA aims to develop a unified reporting model for the gaming industry, which currently lacks a standardized system for measuring emissions that is comparable across studios. By establishing this standard, the SGA hopes to facilitate knowledge sharing and identify companies that are leading the way in sustainability. The group will also focus on actionable measures to reduce the industry’s environmental impact. While initiatives like Gaming for Good and the United Nations’ efforts to promote sustainability through video games exist, Kupiainen believes that the SGA is the first to develop a standard for measuring and reporting gaming emissions.
Moving forward, the SGA plans to announce its members and finalize the first version of the standard by the end of the year. Companies will then start reporting their data, allowing the group to push for change and create a global efficiency footprint for the game industry. The SGA’s efforts align with the European Union’s “green claims directive,” which requires companies to substantiate their sustainability claims. By providing accurate and verified information, the SGA hopes to drive real change in the gaming industry and inspire other industries to follow suit.
